About Us

DEPARTMENTS

The hospital has the following departments for the effective execution of its vital functions.

General Administration Dept.

Out-Patients Department (Consulting Rooms, Injection Room)

Nursing Administration

Environmental and Sanitation Department

Records Department

Laboratory Department

Pharmacy Department (24hrs pharmacy)

Mortuary Department

Catering Department

Estate Department

Laundry Department

Stores and Supply Department

In-Service Training Unit

Social Welfare Department

Internal Audit Departmnet

Accounts Department

Welfare Union Office

Electroconvulsive Therapy Dept. (ECT)

Occupational Therapy Department

Human Resource Department

Psychiatric Hospital- Taking care of your Psychiatry Needs

Historical Background

During the period of colonization and before the introduction of scientific medicine, mental illness was treated with herbal medicine and spiritual rites. In the very early days of colonial rule, mentally ill patients were left alone to their own fate.
However, on 4th February 1888, by a Legislative Instrument (LI) under the signature of the then governor, Sir Edward Griffiths, the old High Court of Victoria Borg was converted into Lunatic Asylum.

The warderns then looked after the patients. No medical treatment was given and no real distinction made between the requirements of the mentally ill and those of the criminal. Over crowding in the prison promoted the building of a new hospital at Adadraka in 1904, and was called Lunatic Asylum; the present Accra Psychiatric Hospital. It was commissioned in 1906 to accommodate 200 patients.

About 110 patients were initially admitted into the new hospital under the charge of 16 untrained attendants. The hospital consisted of four wards; Female, Male, General and Criminal wards. The Lunatic Asylum later underwent modifications and extension into the Psychiatric Hospital with a bed capacity of 600.

VISION STATEMENT

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital seeks to become the leading psychiatric Institution in Ghana providing the best quality psychiatric care to our clients and to foster partnership with other stake holders in providing quality health service.

MISSION STATEMENT

It is to provide the best practice in Psychiatric care to clients through a dedicatec work force of health professionals in a client-friendly environment.

OUR CORE VALUES

Dedication & Excellence

Partnership

Professionalism

Team Work

Functions

The Hospital is responsible for the treatment, welfare, training and rehabilitation of the mentally ill.

The University Of Ghana Medical School has a faculty established at the hospital for undergraduate training in Psychiatry and postgraduate training under the West African College of Psychiatrists (WACP).The hospital thus has a symbiotic relationship with the medical school.

Nurses from all over the country are affiliated to this hospital for their 6-month proficiency training in Psychiatry.

It also has facilities and is accredited for postgraduate training in psychiatry. Clinical problems handled in both training and practice include a range of

neuro-psychotic issues

manic-depressive illnesses

schizophrenia

epilepsy

alcohol and drug abuse

etc.

The hospital has also been part of active awareness campaign on mental health issues. Facilities are also available for the treatment of physical cases at the Ridge Hospital.

BED STATE

The hospital has the capacity to accommodate 600 patients at any given time. However, this has not been the case as the hospital continues to be over crowded with an increasing population and therefore a growing demand on the limited facilities.

This has tended to compromise the comfort and general well-being of patients and constitute an appreciable strain on its resources i.e., working materials, staff and funds.

Management

HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTE

The hospital is run by a management team headed by the Medical Director.

Other members are the

Nurse Manager (D.D.N.S.I/C.)

Deputy Chief Health Service Administrator (Secretary)

Deputy Chief Accountant

Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services

Deputy Chief Catering Officer

Senior Human Resource Manager

Senior Consultant,(Dept of Psychiatry, U.G.M.S.)

National Coordinator of Community Psychiatry Nurses.

There are other administrative communities to support management.

Supporting Facilities

ANKAFUL HOSPITAL

The first-born child of Accra Psychiatric Hospital was Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital. It was opened in October 1965.It had beds for 500 patients who are admitted from central, western and Ashanti regions.

Dr Sangmuah,Dr Sika-Nartey and Dr.Atsor were the pioneer psychiatrists. This was an attempt to decongest the hospital.

PANTANG HOSPITAL

The second born child of Accra Psychiatric Hospital was Pantang hospital. It was opened by General I.K.Acheampong in 1975 and was headed by Dr.Sika-Nartey,a Psychiatrist. The hospital is situated near a village called Pantang,about 1.6 kilometres off the Accra- Aburi road and 25 kilometres from Accra Central. The hospital was originally planned to be a Pan-African Mental Health Village.